In Practice

Chronic rhinitis in South Africa – more than just allergy!

R J Green, M Hockman, R Friedman, A van Niekerk, C Feldman, E Vardas, C Quitter, C Els, L van Bruwaene, A Nanan, J Peter, R Y Seedat, M Levin, C Bateman; on behalf of the South African Allergic Rhinitis Working Group (SAARWG)

Abstract


Chronic rhinitis is a troublesome condition for sufferers. It is tempting to label all patients with chronic nasal symptoms as having allergic rhinitis (AR), but many such patients have other causes of chronic rhinitis that need a specific diagnosis and management strategy. Even when the patient fully fits the definition of AR, their condition will be best served by combining medication with ongoing patient education.


Authors' affiliations

R J Green, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa

M Hockman, Private practice, Johannesburg, South Africa

R Friedman, Private practice, Johannesburg, South Africa

A van Niekerk, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa

C Feldman, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

E Vardas, Lancet Laboratories, Cape Town, South Africa; Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa

C Quitter, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa

C Els, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Private practice, Johannesburg, South Africa

L van Bruwaene, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa

A Nanan, Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa; and Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

J Peter, Division of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

R Y Seedat, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

M Levin, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

C Bateman; on behalf of the South African Allergic Rhinitis Working Group (SAARWG), Independent medical writer, Cape Town, South Africa

Full Text

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Keywords

Chronic rhinitis; Allergic rhinitis; Vasomotor rhinitis; Patient education

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2020;110(7):594-598. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2020.v110i7.14553

Article History

Date submitted: 2020-07-07
Date published: 2020-07-07

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